TDAC - Thailand Digital Arrival Card commences 1 May

[Bazle]

https://tdac.immigration.go.th/arrival-card/#/home

Has to be done 3 days before arrival. Not sure how long before that it can be completed.

[Nightcrawler]

Great info, thanks.

I wonder what will happen to those caught out, not knowing about the change and not coming with an advanced declaration? Being digital, I very much doubt that Airlines would know at Check in desks. 

I presume that tourists would not be turned away at Immigration. This is bound to happen  

I remember once with the old paper slip filled I  on the plane . It had slipped out of my passport somehow.  I just had to fill in another one when I got to Immigration control, so I thought. But they just let through normally  

[Bazle]

11 minutes ago, Nightcrawler said:

Great info, thanks.

I wonder what will happen to those caught out, not knowing about the change and not coming with an advanced declaration? Being digital, I very much doubt that Airlines would know at Check in desks. 

I presume that tourists would not be turned away at Immigration. This is bound to happen  

Neither of us can know for sure, but that is not a presumption I am making.

They want the information 3 days ahead of the flight, so I think they must intend to do some checks. If the checks are not satisfactory, the QR code will not be issued. I don't think they will want people turning up and being refused entry, so I'm guessing they will notify the airlines not to allow those passengers to board.

[KWA]

It's not more than 3 days before arrival and can be done up until the last minute.  Not sure yet if/whether manual approval is required or if the code is generated and sent automatically.

[Lemondropkid]

There's a similar system in the Philippines (e travel) that went live last year.

I arrived in October into Manila and there were dozens of people turned away at immigration.

They were sent to a side desk and given a tablet to complete the form.

I'm going to wait till it's implemented here and see the feedback then.

[Krapow]

[Krapow]

4 hours ago, Bazle said:

They want the information 3 days ahead of the flight, so I think they must intend to do some checks. If the checks are not satisfactory, the QR code will not be issued. I don't think they will want people turning up and being refused entry, so I'm guessing they will notify the airlines not to allow those passengers to board.

Yea, I think the Airlines, well, Thai and EVA anyway, will send out reminder emails for anyone flying.

I think they did similar for the Thailand Pass thing during Covid.

[Krapow]

Just watched the video, guy says 3 days before arrival, but can be done, and i quote '4, 5 days or whatever'.

Think i'll be doing it a week before if it allows me.

Glad i'm not going until July, as although it's probably be automatic unless something's flagged, TIT, and there will be teething issues no doubt!

[Nightcrawler]

3 hours ago, Krapow said:

Yea, I think the Airlines, well, Thai and EVA anyway, will send out reminder emails for anyone flying.

I think they did similar for the Thailand Pass thing during Covid.

But will they allow you to board if no hab? The Thais are not asking for paper copy proof as far as I can tell as it's a digital application   

With covid, the airlines required a printed statement of vaccination or evidence on mobile phone  

I am not sure that the airlines will Mary up to digital info on passengers flying to BKK.

I reckon the worse that could happen is being delayed at Bangkok immigration and asked to fill out a paper form and a mildly smacked bottom. 

Doesn't matter for us here as we all now know,about it now and where to apply online  

 

[Krapow]

1 hour ago, Nightcrawler said:

But will they allow you to board if no hab? The Thais are not asking for paper copy proof as far as I can tell as it's a digital application   

With covid, the airlines required a printed statement of vaccination or evidence on mobile phone  

I am not sure that the airlines will Mary up to digital info on passengers flying to BKK.

I reckon the worse that could happen is being delayed at Bangkok immigration and asked to fill out a paper form and a mildly smacked bottom. 

Doesn't matter for us here as we all now know,about it now and where to apply online  

 

Hope you're right!

Thankfully should be sorted by July lol

[KWA]

5 hours ago, Krapow said:

Just watched the video, guy says 3 days before arrival, but can be done, and i quote '4, 5 days or whatever'.

Think i'll be doing it a week before if it allows me.

The guy in the video is wrong and (as above) it's not more than 3 days before arrival.  Try it and you'll see you can't enter an arrival date more than 3 days ahead when you pull up the calendar in the application.

[Krapow]

11 hours ago, KWA said:

The guy in the video is wrong and (as above) it's not more than 3 days before arrival.  Try it and you'll see you can't enter an arrival date more than 3 days ahead when you pull up the calendar in the application.

So it's actually roughly 2 and half days before you depart then. 

Again, happy I'm not going until July, by which time hopefully everything will be clearer and smoother.

[Bazle]

I predict that quite a few people will have problems entering their accommodation addresses. 

[Homor]

22 hours ago, Bazle said:

so I'm guessing they will notify the airlines not to allow those passengers to board.

What happens if your not allowed to board will you get your money back from the airlines??

[Horizondave]

1 hour ago, Homor said:

What happens if your not allowed to board will you get your money back from the airlines??

Only if your ticket allows a refund. If you have a non refundable ticket then you will get nothing. 

It is every passengers responsibility to ensure they have the right documents/passport/visa etc., to ensure boarding of a flight to the destination country.

The airline bears no responsibility.

The airline may advise passengers through communication, information on their website etc., of basic requirements for travel but it is usually general advice. In all cases you are expected (your responsibility) to check the entry requirements of each country you are intending on entering. 

For info, this is what BA say:

If the airline allowed somebody to travel without checking they had the correct documents etc., then there is a likely chance that the passenger could be denied entry and the airline will bear the cost of returning that passenger to the embarkation point.

If you are denied entry to Thailand, your next steps are controlled by the airline you arrived with, not Thai immigration officers. Depending on the airline's policy, you may be sent back to your country of origin or allowed to fly to a nearby country without a visa.

 

Edited April 1, 2025 by Horizondave

[boydeste]

Canada have a similar system.

The wording is always confusing. 

If it's the same as Canada and many others. 

You fill it out when there is only 72 hours left before your flight and up to when your flight departs or lands whichever they decide. 

[Krapow]

https://www.bangkokpost.com/life/travel/3000466/online-arrival-cards-for-thailand-take-effect-may-1

All foreign travellers planning a visit to Thailand are reminded that starting on May 1 they will be required to complete an online arrival card prior to arriving in the kingdom, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday.

The required information can be filled in at the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) website developed by the Immigration Bureau, said ministry spokesman Nikorndej Balankura.

A TDAC app will be available for Android and iOS users in the near future, he added.

Exempt from the requirement are consular and diplomatic workers, members of some international organisations, as well as their dependents and staff, and foreign officials on official assignments.

The TDAC will replace the TM6 paper card, which all visitors had to complete in order to clear immigration. The use of TM6 cards has been suspended since last year.  

“All foreign passengers will be required to fill in the TDAC, whether they arrive by air, sea or land,” said Mr Nikorndej.  

“The information submitted by the travellers will allow us to provide the appropriate care and assistance during their stay in Thailand.”

He said visitors can file their TDAC up to three days prior to their arrival in Thailand. They will be required to fill in their passport or travel document details, address of accommodation in Thailand and certain health information.

People who had been in cities or ports considered to be high-risk areas for infectious diseases within 14 days of arriving in Thailand may be asked to supply additional information, said Mr Nikorndej.

Applications can be edited before submission and group submissions are also available, he said.

“We would like to clarify that the TDAC is not a visa, but a digital entry card developed with the purpose of facilitating travel to Thailand. Please note that Thai nationals are not required to complete the TDAC when they return to Thailand,” he said. 

“Foreigners who plan to arrive in Thailand on May 1 can access the TDAC system from April 28.”

 

[Bazle]

I have a mate who is flying from the UK to Thailand tomorrow on EVA with some other guy (XXX). I have just received this message from him, which I think is worth sharing:

"XXX and I had a fun time trying to get our TDACs sorted yesterday. Whether it was using my phone, my PC, XXX's work PC or his private one, we were getting drop-downs that didn't do so, text that we inserted into those fields disappearing, and eventually getting Bad Gateway error messages that even prevented us from getting back into the site.

We tried again around 10pm, and it was an absolute breeze, with no issues whatsoever. It seems to me that there are memory issues with the website's database behind the entry form, as though it can't handle heavy traffic, which it probably experiences during the day. A lesson for the future, I suppose, i.e. do it at a time when we're not expecting the world and his wife to be applying."

[KWA]

Similar reported elsewhere.

[Krapow]

Shocker! 

[KWA]

Soon be able to scan or upload a pic of your passport to enter personal details.  Not sure that'll save much time but good to see they're trying to improve things.

[Bazle]

This is quite an informative video which covers matters such as changing your expected departure date:

 

[Phantom51red]

On 5/8/2025 at 8:56 PM, Krapow said:

Shocker! 

I wish some one would,take him out if ye know what I mean ☠️

[Phantom51red]

On 5/8/2025 at 2:54 PM, Bazle said:

I have a mate who is flying from the UK to Thailand tomorrow on EVA with some other guy (XXX). I have just received this message from him, which I think is worth sharing:

"XXX and I had a fun time trying to get our TDACs sorted yesterday. Whether it was using my phone, my PC, XXX's work PC or his private one, we were getting drop-downs that didn't do so, text that we inserted into those fields disappearing, and eventually getting Bad Gateway error messages that even prevented us from getting back into the site.

We tried again around 10pm, and it was an absolute breeze, with no issues whatsoever. It seems to me that there are memory issues with the website's database behind the entry form, as though it can't handle heavy traffic, which it probably experiences during the day. A lesson for the future, I suppose, i.e. do it at a time when we're not expecting the world and his wife to be applying."

Ah I did my one the night before,might explain why no issues.

[forcebwithu]

1 hour ago, Bazle said:

This is quite an informative video which covers matters such as changing your expected departure date:

 

Another good presenter. I like when content creators don't dilly dally around and make what should be a few minutes of usual information into a tedious 10 minutes or more of verbal diarrhea.